LTE stands for “Long Term Evolution.” The history and vision behind that name are worth learning to understand why not all LTE devices and devices are 4G. The LTE backstory is also helpful when choosing the next generation of mobile technology, from 5G to 6G and beyond.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines the criteria that each new technology must meet in order to wear the label of 3G, 4G and eventually 5G. In the case of 4G, devices and networks must be capable of providing speeds of up to 100 Mbps in high-mobility environments, such as when users are in cars or trains, and up to 1 Gbps in stationary environments.
When LTE was introduced, it didn’t fully meet the ITU’s 4G criteria. As a result, it was initially marketed as a steppingstone toward true 4G technology and all of its capabilities. For example, mobile operator advertising often referred to LTE network and devices as “4G LTE” even though they couldn’t deliver the ITU’s minimum throughput requirements.
Scrutinize the Specs
This is where the “evolution” part of LTE’s name comes into play. Over time, advancements have enabled LTE networks and devices to meet and exceed 4G performance benchmarks. For example, LTE Advanced (LTE-A) is capable of speeds beyond LTE’s minimum threshold of 100 Mbps.
In some regions, 4G and LTE networks were deployed almost simultaneously, with LTE serving as the initial phase of 4G implementation. In others, LTE networks were upgraded over time to meet 4G standards.
For device OEMs, systems integrators and their customers, the takeaway here is to focus on specs rather than marketing monikers. All of these questions apply to 4G, 5G and eventually 6G:
- Does a technology provide the uplink and downlink speeds, latency and other capabilities that your application requires?
- If it does, do mobile operators in your target markets support that technology both in terms of capabilities and coverage?
- Do chipset vendors and antenna providers offer products that meet those operators’ carrier certification requirements and work in the bands where they’re licensed?
If 4G, 5G and 6G have one thing in common, it’s that they each evolve in terms of meeting ITU standards and then exceeding them. Every enhancement in capabilities increases the market potential of devices and services that use those evolutionary capabilities.
Take the example of a service that provides live sports to tens of thousands of customers in a metropolitan area. This use case would benefit from networks that support LTE Broadcast, which is designed to provide the same content to a wide audience simultaneously in a way that doesn’t overload networks. Understanding these evolutionary roadmaps helps ensure that devices and services are designed to take advantage of them.
What’s Next?
Another key lesson from 4G LTE is that whenever a new generation of cellular debuts, device OEMs, systems integrators and their customers face a choice: The latest generation offers higher bandwidth, lower latency and other advances. And as a brand-new technology, it also offers a level of future proofing because mobile operators eventually sunset their legacy networks to free up spectrum for the latest generation. Longevity is a major benefit for applications whose devices need to remain in service for at least a decade, such as utility smart meters.
But on the other hand, the legacy technology has had a decade or more to ride down the cost curve. That can be a major advantage for highly cost-sensitive applications such as IoT. The legacy technology also has had a decade or more to build out coverage, including indoors and in rural areas. Coverage directly affects the addressable market for a device because consumers, businesses and governments won’t buy something that can’t reliably connect wherever they are.
All of this is a lot to consider, which is why savvy device OEMs, systems integrators and end users turn to a trusted expert that can provide insights into standards evolution, operator roadmaps and other key factors. To get started, get in touch with Taoglas’ Engineering team by clicking the button below.